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Verstappen capitalized on a tactical decision from McLaren that flew in the face of decisions made by all other squads during an initial safety car period

This proved to be a costly decision that sacrificed track position to Verstappen in the final stages and retrospectively cost the victory for Piastri

Race Results and Championship Implications

Verstappen triumphed to take his 7th win of the campaign, matching Norris and Piastri, while the Australian was runner-up and the British driver in fourth behind the Williams of Carlos Sainz

Norris won himself an extra two points by overtaking Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes on the penultimate lap

The championship leader has been maintained a 12-point advantage over his rival, who moved ahead of his teammate by four points heading to the final race on 5-7 December

To win the title, the British driver must finish at least third at Yas Marina if Verstappen takes victory next Sunday

Critical Events of the Thrilling Race

• McLaren's decision not to pit when a yellow flag was deployed on lap seven for a collision between Alpine's Gasly and the Swiss team's Hulkenberg
• A strategy led by the Australian to advance his final stop in a desperate attempt to catch Verstappen came to nothing
• A surprise second podium for the Williams driver gifted by McLaren's tactical decision

The Way The British Team Lost Out in The Race

The fateful point for McLaren was when the two drivers came together as the German tried to overtake the Gasly around the outside of the first corner on the seventh lap

Hulkenberg's car was left damaged beside the track This triggered the yellow flag

The critical part of the timing was that it meant there were 50 laps remaining in the grand prix

With Pirelli imposing a twenty-five lap safety limit on the tires, that signified anyone who pitted at that moment was committed to a fixed plan with a second stop on the thirty-second lap

Driver Reactions and After the Event Comments

No words

The McLaren driver added in his after-race conversation: Clearly we made mistakes tonight I drove the best race I was capable of, as quick as I could, but there was no more pace out there Tried my best but didn't get it done

Verstappen said: That represented an incredible race for us We made the right call to box It was intelligent And super-happy to win here and stay in the fight to the head, remarkable

Final Race Positions

• 1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
• 2. Piastri (McLaren Racing)
• 3. Carlos Sainz (Williams Racing)
• 4. Norris (McLaren)
• 5. Antonelli (Mercedes-AMG)
• 6. Russell (Mercedes-AMG)
• 7. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
• 8. Leclerc (Ferrari)
• 9. Liam Lawson (RB F1 Team)
• 10. Tsunoda (Red Bull)

What's Next?

The all-important title decider at the Yas Marina The circuit itself does not create the most exciting competition, but yet again this twilight race hosts an event which promises to be every bit as dramatic as Sebastian Vettel's first title in 2010, or Verstappen's highly controversial first title in 2021